Multicultural Greek Orgs Propose Sub-Council

Alpha Kappa Alpha is another multicultural Greek organization involved in the effort to establish a sub-council for multicultural Greek orgs. COURTESY OF KALIN VENABLE

The five multicultural Greek organizations on campus are trying to secure a space for themselves to have separate meetings from Greek Council through creating a separate sub-council. These organizations include Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Lambda Theta Nu and Gamma Zeta Alpha (petitioning).

Alpha Phi Alpha Secretary Justin Nkemere said Greek Council would still oversee the multicultural groups under this plan, but the sub-council would “have [their own] space to discuss matters that meet [their] needs as smaller and specific organizations,” Nkemere said.

“All of the multicultural [Greek org] presidents have already met with [Greek Council Advisor Cesar Delgadillo] to discuss this planning,” Alpha Phi Alpha Vice President Marcus Aguilar said. “We don’t want to separate from the Greek Council. We want to work in conjunction with them.”

Currently, the five multicultural organizations who support a sub-council are still in the planning phase and working with Delgadillo.

This proposal is separate from that of senior Ebony Azumah’s, reported by the Foghorn on Nov. 1. Azumah is trying to create a separate governing body from Greek Council for traditionally black organizations under the National Pan-Hellenic Council, a nationally recognized body.

Both Aguilar and Nkemere said that Greek Council has shown their full support on the matter since Aguilar presented the idea on Oct. 10.

“I expressed complete support for giving all multicultural organizations [time] to meet,” Greek Council President Roman Belash said. “I would be more than happy to book rooms and provide a space for our multicultural organizations to meet as often as they like. In regards to restructuring Greek Council for the sake of this, that is a conversation that is ongoing.”

The sub-council doesn’t have a name yet, but Aguilar said they will be deciding on one soon. Those involved hope the sub-council will be established in spring 2019.

“The needs of our organizations are completely different than our predominantly white counterparts,” Nkemere said. “The way we go about things is very different, on top of the fact that multicultural orgs have two to five members each, so we’re all spread thin as student leaders. To be able to have a space where we can focus on what we need and how to help each other out would definitely help [in] recruiting and retaining members.”

“It’s important that people recognize who we are and what we do,” Nkemere said. “It is our hope that USF will soon do what it needs to [do] to support us and our organizations, now and in the future.”